If AltAz and outreach are your main objectives, I'd consider the LX80. I have one and there are a number of users here that like it for everything except AP which hasn't really been tried of late that I'm aware of.

Mkofski, thats the thing, I really don't want to be limited by the mount for just dual alt-az. I loved the concept when Meade introduced the LX80, but for AP, the results are not so good. I'm not looking for long exposure, nothing more then say 2 mins, but frankly I don't need a headache either, my CG5 is giving me that right now. I can't get good tracking on it at all, not even for 8 secs (max time for SCB2k), so even video astronomy is out.

I have even been considering a manual alt-az for outreach, would be simpler for sure. But if I'm going to plunk down 450 for a dual-mount (ES Twilight II), then the jump to $999 (iOptron) is worth it IF I can be fairly comfortable in knowing the the mount in EQ will permit decent enough tracking for live video astronomy outreach on Google+ and NSN.

John , I have a couple of these MT,s and they work just fine in EQ mode. I made up a wedge for it and now can use it in both Alt/Az and EQ by a simple adjustment to the wedge...They are reasonably light and great for grab and go in my opinion.
cheers.
Graham.

John, I have used the iOptron Cube Pro in EQ mode. Used it for several months in fact. The hardest issue when using in EQ mode is adjusting in azimuth, since you have to move the tripod. Once you do that, unless you are on a perfecty level surface, you have changed latitude also...

This makes it very hard to perform a polar alignment. Your ota must be used to center on Polaris and adjustments made from there.

Oh, you can autoguide it once you get the polar align pretty close. Here's a link that explains how to do it:

John, I have used the iOptron Cube Pro in EQ mode. Used it for several months in fact. The hardest issue when using in EQ mode is adjusting in azimuth, since you have to move the tripod. Once you do that, unless you are on a perfecty level surface, you have changed latitude also...

This makes it very hard to perform a polar alignment. Your ota must be used to center on Polaris and adjustments made from there.

Oh, you can autoguide it once you get the polar align pretty close. Here's a link that explains how to do it:

Hi Graham, I have not tried the MT Pro in EQ, simply because I have the iEQ45 and the Smart EQ Pro mounts for EQ. Maybe in the spring I'll try hanging the Comet Hunter on it in EQ mode, just to see if it behaves the same as the Cube pro did.

Hi Graham, I have not tried the MT Pro in EQ, simply because I have the iEQ45 and the Smart EQ Pro mounts for EQ. Maybe in the spring I'll try hanging the Comet Hunter on it in EQ mode, just to see if it behaves the same as the Cube pro did.

Cheers...

Paul

Thanks Paul.
It will be interesting on the performance of the pro and interesting in your results against the cube.
Perhaps you might let me know on that. You know where and how to get me.
cheers.
Graham.